You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.
I have a 2017 27 inch imac and find there are simply not enough USB slots in the back. Im constantly having to unplug the printer to plug in the mouse (for recharging) or when I want to use my intous (among other things).
Is there a device that can plug into the back of the mac that has extra USB slots?
iMac, macOS High Sierra (10.13.6)
Thanks everyone. After reading all your advice I searched on amazon and have decided on one of several. Cateck has no on off switch but has SD card readers. Sabrent has on off switches. I dont really need 6 or 7 slots. and it seems like these things only come with power adapters when there are 6 slots or more.
Cateck says there is over-voltage protection. Which seems to me like a good thing. Though wish there were on off buttons. I rather like the power OFF of things Im not using as opposed to plugging in and out like I have to do with my intous. My dream hub would have all these features. If one exists I did not find it on Amazon.
Im out of touch with what constitutes a better value brand. So, if anyone knows a better brand please let me know.
Cateck 6 slot USB hub with card reader. With power adapter.
or
Cateck 4 slot hub with card reader. No external power supply.
https://tinyurl.com/yaut2k4c
Or
Sabrent 7 slot USB hub. With power adapter.
https://tinyurl.com/ydy28v8c
or
Sabrent 4 slot USB hub. No external power supply
https://tinyurl.com/y755s38j
Thanks everyone. After reading all your advice I searched on amazon and have decided on one of several. Cateck has no on off switch but has SD card readers. Sabrent has on off switches. I dont really need 6 or 7 slots. and it seems like these things only come with power adapters when there are 6 slots or more.
Cateck says there is over-voltage protection. Which seems to me like a good thing. Though wish there were on off buttons. I rather like the power OFF of things Im not using as opposed to plugging in and out like I have to do with my intous. My dream hub would have all these features. If one exists I did not find it on Amazon.
Im out of touch with what constitutes a better value brand. So, if anyone knows a better brand please let me know.
Cateck 6 slot USB hub with card reader. With power adapter.
or
Cateck 4 slot hub with card reader. No external power supply.
https://tinyurl.com/yaut2k4c
Or
Sabrent 7 slot USB hub. With power adapter.
https://tinyurl.com/ydy28v8c
or
Sabrent 4 slot USB hub. No external power supply
https://tinyurl.com/y755s38j
They are usually called "hubs." Try Amazon.com. Most use normal USB-3.0 A/B ports, not USB-C. You will need a USB-C/TB3 (male) to USB-3.0 (female) adapter to connect it to the computer if all you have are USB-C/TB3 ports.
Hi Stuart, thanks for the recommend. A question though...My two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports are in use with hdmi connection to my TV for one thing and I forget what Ive got in the other at the moment.
Can I use the USB 3 port to plug in what I now understand is a hub or a dock? Or if I use the item you recommend I could plug in say my HDMI adapter which used a USB C slot into the belkins additional USB-C slot? I would assume yes to piggy back but wonder if there would be any problems with that much power being drawn off the one USB C slot.
Im maybe thinking old school...like when one plugs in an electrical power strip into ones wall. Sometimes this can handle 4 more electrical items and in some cases not. In older houses one blows a fuse when applying too many items even though the strip permits it.
Completely clueless with regard to my imac and any power issues.
By powered you mean it gets power from an electrical outlet instead of the computer? thats what I was wondering about. I might have three USB 3/2 items plugged into a docking station/Hub. Thanks for this tip I will go see what amazon has to offer in the way of powered hub/dock. Its the keywords that stump me. I didnt know what to look for so thank all of you.
There is also this unique option for an iMac:
Sabrent HB-IMCU Premium 4-Port Aluminum USB 3.0 Hub... at MacSales.com
which eliminates a piece sitting on a desktop and it
can be bus powered or you can purchase a separate supply
(recommended) that is available on the same page.
Here you go: Belkin USB 3.0 4-Port Hub + USB-C Cable - Apple
Please note this limitation from the specs:
Yes. It's called a USB dock.
Docking stations, hubs, you say tomato… 😎
FWIW, you may also need a powered hub/dock if you have too many devices that are powered off a USB port.
Yes, They plug into an outlet. I tend to use powered hubs just because if the devices exceed what a USB port can provide you end up having to purchase a powered hub. I'd rather not have to buy two.
I'd go with the Sabrent with its own power supply.
How can I add more USB slots to my imac?
